1 Peter 2

Friday, November 10, 2017 | Pastor Kevin

Peter takes a moment to remind his readers who they are in Christ. He calls them peculiar people, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. Powerful words describe our position in Christ. I love the words "peculiar people," because they remind me that we are not to be "normal" according to the world's standards; we are to be completely different to the extent of peculiarity in all that we do. Later, Peter focuses upon the importance of staying under the authority God has ordained at the moment. When you go back to chapter one, you see that he is writing to the "diaspora," the dispersed Christians in the Roman Empire. Why are they dispersed? Roman persecution has pushed them out of their homes and businesses and transplanted them to different cities in the region. Peter's words suddenly reveal one way that we are to be peculiar. We are to stay under the authority of those who persecute us. He tells servants to "be submissive to your masters with all respect." He continues by reminding them that it does not matter if that master treats them well or not; they are not working for him but for Yahweh. A royal priesthood is the other phrase that always grabs my attention when I read this text. We no longer require priests to stand between us and God; instead, we are now a part of His royal family and free to talk with Him at any moment for any reason. Can you imagine the Almighty stopping everything to hear your praise, requests, and supplications? We serve an awesome God and He has called us His "peculiar people" and His "royal priesthood." It is time Christians in this country and around the world begin to live like that is who we are!

Help me, Lord, to be peculiar to those I am around who have never met Jesus. Help me to live as the son of the King of all kings and to continually bring my praise, needs, and supplications before Your throne..